GDHQNHL15_2pg-Washington Capitals 1

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Offense
The Caps were only 11th in the NHL in goals scored last year, but
you can’t blame that on right winger Alex Ovechkin, who scored 51 of
them, including 10 game winners and a ridiculous 24 on the power-play.
Now comfortable on the right, Ovechkin is an old-style classic scorer
who isn’t going to play much defense (minus-35 rating) or pass that
often (28 assists). But when it comes to lighting the lamp, there is none
better anywhere.
The Caps have some depth around him, and management thought
enough of it to refrain from making any substantial offseason moves to
upgrade the forward line. So, Washington heads into the 2014-15 season
with the same core as it had last year, when it didn’t qualify for the postseason.
There must be plenty of confidence in new coach Barry Trotz’s
system, because failing to add someone to the group that’s returning
could lead to some problems, particularly if the defense doesn’t pick up.
It’s fairly easy to pile up assists while centering a line with Ovechkin
on it, but Nicklas Backstrom (61 assists) isn’t just a by-product of his
linemate’s talent. He’s a good passer who can also score some and is solid
on the power play. Veteran Joel Ward had 24 goals last year and is a solid
two-way player, while Troy Brouwer enjoyed his finest sniping season a
year ago by scoring 25 goals, 12 of which came on the advantage.
Jason Chimera turned 35 in May, but he’s good for some scoring pop (14
goals in 2013-14), and wing Eric Fehr has the ability to score on occasion.
But it will be interesting to see if the Caps miss center Mikhail Grabovski,
who was allowed to leave in free agency and landed with the Islanders.
He’s not a huge producer, but he can be a solid second-line center. One
player who bears watching is 22-year old center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who
showed he could score during an abbreviated debut last year.
Defense
How badly did Washington want to upgrade its D? Badly enough
to commit a total of $67.75 million to Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik
and lure them to D.C. from Pittsburgh. They will be expected to fortify
immediately a defense corps that played a big role in the Caps’ finishing
22nd in goals allowed last year.
Orpik brings immediate pop to the blue line and led the Pens in
hits last year. Niskanen had 10 goals and a plus-33 rating last year,
so he should help at both ends and serve as a puck mover from the
Washington zone. It’s not stretching things to say that if these two don’t
get it done, GM Brian MacLellan, who was promoted to the post last
EASTERN CONFERENCE
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
Alex Ovechkin
Washington
CAPITALS
Key Additions:
D Matt Niskanen; D Brooks
Orpik; RW Chris Conner; G
Justin Peters; RW Kris Newbury;
LW Tim Kennedy
Key Subtractions:
C Mikhail Grabovski; G Jaroslav
Halak; LW Dustin Penner; D
Tyson Strachan
Strengths:
Abundance of offensive
firepower
Weaknesses:
Goaltending, defense
Katherine Frey/The Washington Post